etsu: 2011-2014

White Privilege and Male Privilege/Peggy McIntosh

This article inspired me to think about my life in a way I never had before. It pointed out the unfairness and injustice in the world, but what stuck out the most to me was the list of privileges that white people have. The list, at first, simply listed things that I had thought of before. The idea that people do not judge me on my race is not a big shock to me because of all the discussion on racial prejudice in my history classes. However, the privilege that I had never thought of before and the privilege that I think is most unappreciated is number 46 on the list.

46. I can choose blemish cover or bandages in “flesh” color and have them more or less match my skin.

BAND-AIDS! Never before have I thought that we had so many privileges that even things as simple as Band-aids are made with only white people in mind.

This article caused me to think about each aspect of my life and how, because of my skin color, I have privileges that others don’t.